Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Wrap-up October 20-26, 2024
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Auto Central October 27, 2024;Every Sunday Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy and Auto Channel Executive Producer, with able assistance from senior Detroit editor Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, compile The Auto Channel's "take" on this past week's automotive news, condensed into easy to digest news Nuggets.
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Nutson's Auto News Wrap-up Week Of October 20-26, 2024
- EV market update. The electric vehicle (EV) market continues to expand in the U.S., as recent Cox Automotive data reveal a year-over-year rise in sales for both new and used EVs. September marked the sixth consecutive month in which new EV sales surpassed 100,000 units. EV share of new vehicle sales achieved a notable 9% last month, the highest level to date. HERE
- Do you need special EV tires?Electric vehicle tires are designed to address specific challenges such as increased weight, instant torque and noise reduction, which are not typically handled by standard tires. Companies like Michelin, Goodyear and Continental are developing EV-specific tires designed to meet these extra requirements. However, these tires can cost up to 20% more due to their unique materials and construction. While some industry experts argue that EV labeling is more about marketing, others emphasize the real technological advancements behind these tires. Full story HERE
- EV Charging.Followers of electric vehicle charging are no doubt familiar with the Tesla-developed NACS charging plug and the associated SAE J3400 standard that helps define the future of EV charging in North America across all BEVs. Experts underscore that the standard is for a system of charging, not just a plug, designed to create a convenient, reliable EV experience. Details HERE
- Gas prices are down. Gasoline is approaching or has fallen below $3 a gallon in most states, returning to a national average not seen since February in one of the clearest examples of prices declining after a period of rapid inflation. Pump prices averaged $3.16 for regular gas, down 11% from this time last year, according to motor club AAA. Average prices have already dipped below $3 a gallon in 19 states, including swing states Georgia, North Carolina and Wisconsin. Americans currently spend around 2% of their disposable income on gasoline, less than they did in the run-up to all recent presidential elections besides the 2020 contest, according to ClearView Energy Partners, a research firm in Washington, D.C. Oil prices plunged that year as the world shut down over the COVID-19 pandemic. Americans are consuming less gasoline than they used to. Between better energy efficiency and more electric and hybrid vehicles on the road, domestic consumption is about 4% lower than it was in 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Many analysts doubt it will ever recover to pre-pandemic levels.
- Best SUVs for Seniors. The folks at CarBuzz have done a bit of analysis and put together a list of the best SUVs for seniors. Seniors are more likely to opt for models from top brands that they are already familiar with. As well, comfort, ease of maneuvering and room for the grandkids are also important. Have a look here at their top picks. HERE
- Not the best police car. Some law enforcement officers in the San Francisco Bay Area are running into problems with the new electric Tesla squad cars they've been assigned by their agencies. A profile of northern California police chiefs in three cities by SFGATE revealed that the cars- introduced in the last year- are being met with widespread opposition from the officers tasked with using them. Get the inside story here: HERE
- Water logged cars. Hurricane Helene left as many as 138,000 vehicles flood damaged after it tore through at least six states, CARFAX estimates. Floodwaters swamped communities in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. That's on top of the estimated up to 89,000 vehicles already hit with water damage so far this year, according to CARFAX estimates. Details HERE
- Auto insurance rates. Thousands of driver's cars, vans and trucks were flooded, battered or burned in the back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton. In Florida alone, more than 80,000 auto-insurance claims have been filed since the two storms, according to the state’s insurance regulator. The hurricanes dealt a multibillion-dollar blow to auto insurers, just as they were becoming profitable again and easing up on the pace of premium increases in many states. Now car owners in areas hit by Helene and Milton and other hurricane-prone regions could see prices rise further, analysts said.
- Monster pickup trucks. Large American brand pickup trucks, slightly bigger than a second world war tank, are growing in popularity in Europe. Road safety and environmental campaigners in the UK and Europe are aghast as the latest, most extreme cases of North American car bloat – giant pickup trucks – are increasingly crossing the Atlantic. European cities such as Paris, Lyon, Grenoble and Tübingen have imposed weight-based fees that make SUV and pickup truck drivers pay more to park. Campaigners have called on the European Commission to tighten safety rules and close the approval loophole that lets big pickups sneak on to European roads. Read about the EU concern HERE
- Cinquecento most green. Green Car Journal has named the Fiat 500e 2025 Urban Green Car of the Year, marking the second straight year that the Fiat 500e has won this award. The 500e is electrifying North America with its sustainable mobility mission as Stellantis' first full BEV vehicle in the region. Green Car Journal editors noted the 500e's unique combination of fun, nimbleness, modest footprint and Italian-chic style. Fiat 500e's 42-kWh lithium-ion battery delivers EPA-estimated combined city/highway range of 149 miles and 162 miles in the city-only test cycle. Pricing for 2024 Fiat 500e starts at $32,500; prospective lessees can take advantage of $7,500 federal EV tax credit. HERE
- SUV of the Year. MotorTrend Group, a Warner Bros. Discovery company, announced the Lincoln Nautilus as the 2025 SUV of the Year award winner. Lincoln’s premium SUV stood out from competitors thanks to its elegant and sporty exterior, excellent driver assist features, interior comfort, and user-friendly, in-vehicle digital experience system. The Lincoln Nautilus beat several impressive competitors, including the Rivian R1S, Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus GX550, Hyundai Santa Fe, GMC Hummer SUV, and the Mercedes G-Wagen. The MotorTrend “Of The Year” awards are based on six key criteria: safety, efficiency, value, advancement in design, engineering excellence, and performance of intended function.
- Scout is back! Scout Motors, a part of the Volkswagen Group, unveiled its two new off-road-ready vehicles, the Traveler SUV and the Terra pickup truck. They feature body-on-frame architecture, all-electric battery-power with 800-volt architecture and up to 350 kW DCFC charge rate. There's up to 350 miles of mixed city/highway range. The pickup can tow 10,000 lbs. and the SUV tows 7,000 lbs. Prices start under $60,000. A "Harvester" EREV range-extender will be available to increase range up to 500 miles. Production is targeted to start in 2027. The Scout brand will be sold direct-to-consumers, with no dealer network. Go here to have a look and make a reservation with a $100 deposit. HERE
- VW ID.Buzz self-driving shuttle. We read that the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand, Volkswagen ADMT GmbH and MOIA are developing self-driving shuttles based on the all-electric VW ID. Buzz that will strengthen public transport and make urban traffic safer. Stephan Weil, the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony in Germany, took a ride in a VW ID.Buzz AD prototype through the city center of Hanover, Germany and was impressed by how AD vehicles are already able to cope with difficult traffic situations. Stay tuned!
- Honda recall. Honda is recalling more than 700,000 vehicles because the high-pressure fuel pump may crack and leak fuel, which could increase the risk of a fire. The recall covers the 2023-2024 Accord and Accord Hybrid, the 2025 Civic and Civic Hybrid and the 2023-2025 CR-V Hybrid. It is the second major recall this month at Honda, after 1.7 million vehicles were found to have potential steering issues.
- Kia recall. Kia is recalling 14,163 EV9 electric SUVs from model years 2024 and 2025 because their digital instrument clusters could go blank while the vehicles are being driven. The vehicles received an over-the-air software update in August that may have introduced a software logic error, according to the NHTSA. This can cause instrument-cluster screens to go blank intermittently, preventing the driver from seeing the speedometer, odometer, and turn signal indicators.
- Rebelle Rally winners. After a week of challenging navigation and driving across 2,600+ kilometers, the podium finishers in the all-female 2024 Rebelle Rally are: First in the 4x4 class is three-time 4x4 champs Team #129 Nena Barlow and Teralin Petereit piloting a 2024 Jeep Gladiator Mojave. Following closely in 2nd place is returning Team #150, 2020 X-Cross Champ and 6x Rebelle Shelby Hall alongside 7x Rebelle Rori Lewis in a 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor. Rounding out the top three is four-time competitors, 2021 Rookies of the Year, Team #152 Samantha Barber and Becky Brophy, driving @totalchaosfabrication-equipped 2024 Toyota Tacoma. Subaru took its first-ever win at the Rebelle Rally in the X-Cross class with Team #204 Carey Lando and Andrea Shaffer driving a 2014 Subaru Outback. This is the first time the duo has teamed up, though both bring twelve years of combined Rebelle experience in this year’s competition. Second place is also a first time team-up, with 3x X-Cross champ and 9x Rebelle Melissa Clark alongside 3x Rebelle Kathryn Reinhart in a 2025 Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch. Third place went to another first-time pairing of rally veterans—2x Rebelle champ Rebecca Donaghe and second-time competitor Syndiely Wade—in a 2025 BMW X3 M50. HERE
- Fomula DRIFT winner. Toyota has clinched its ninth Formula DRIFT Auto Cup title after the season finale at California’s Irwindale Speedway. Three Toyota brands – the Toyota GR Supra, Toyota GR Corolla Hatchback and the Toyota GR86 – compete in Formula DRIFT. Multi-time champion Fredric Aasbo led the Toyota charge this season with a win in Atlanta and a podium finish in St. Louis, while his teammate Ryan Tuerck scored a victory at Seattle, his first triumph since 2022. Fellow Toyota drivers Ken Gushi and Jhonnattan Castro also had several round wins with Gushi starting the year with a strong fourth-place finish at Long Beach, while Castro reached the Great 8 in Seattle. Toyota first entered the Formula DRIFT ranks with the Scion badging and claimed its first three Auto Cup titles consecutively with the brand between 2014 and 2016. Toyota scored three more championships from 2017 through 2019, along with its most recent Auto Cup crowns in 2021 and 2022.
- NASCAR finals. The first NASCAR Round of 8 race for the championship took place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend. Drivers who made up the eight racers were Kyle Larsson, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott and Joey Logano. Logano was below the cutline and eliminated from the eight-driver field when he left Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 13. But when Alex Bowman’s car failed post-race inspection, Bowman was disqualified and Logano reinstated to the playoff field. Knocked out of the playoffs this time last week, Joey Logano seized on his reversal of fortune to become the first driver locked into NASCAR’s championship finale. It is the second win of the playoffs for Logano and the Team Penske driver makes a Ford the first one locked into the winner-take-all final four at Phoenix Raceway next month.
- RIP. Race car design genius and Hall-of-Famer Bob Riley has died at age 93. Riley was as prolific as he was persevering, as he played a key role in wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Indianapolis 500, the Sebring 12-Hour and the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Details HERE